All Forum Posts by: Lisa Graesser

You have all encouraged me to get a CPA, just purchased our 3rd, vacation rental. Have been doing my own taxes via turbo tax thus far. Went through an excruciating audit in 2016 due to an error on turbo tax. Got through it and still carried on. Now is the time to hand it over and release the control. Thank you for the post.

@hubert h byron III The cost of adding a keyless entry lock on your door that runs on a battery is only between $80-$100. The convenience it provides for me and my guests is invaluable. 

I would hope that someone that wants to vacation in a woodsy area would not be put off by seeing mouse traps, whether there are dead mice in them or not. I would be more put off if I saw a live one scurrying around and no traps in sight. This summer we rented a cabin in the woods. Several traps around the house and one with a dead mouse. We discarded the mouse and reset the trap. We let the owner know, but not because it bothered us.  Those that would complain about that shouldn't be in the woods.

I agree with @davedash, rate them appropriately with explanation. You don't want them to rent from you again anyways.

I would also be interested. I have 2 short term rentals in Florida that are doing well and I have been learning as I go. Always looking for more information and ways to innovate.

@Eric A. @lucas carl  we do the same, hasn't failed us yet. But we  did learn a good tip on a previous forum that we have  implented. We now have a lock box with a key inside attached to the gas meter, just in case the batteries fail. The renter can then contact us and we would send them the code for the box.

I don't think you will ever lose in the Elmwood village, especially since you purchased be for this bubble. It is a very desirable area and will always be popular with the younger familes and the older generation that want to be close and walkable to many amenties. I did hear that all of buffalo will be reassessed over the next year. So if you are thinking of selling this is probably a great time with prices most likely at their peak and the taxes low. 

@Eric A. Vrbo at this time only remits taxes for certain counties. At this time in Florida, they only remit taxes for Broward county. My vacation rentals are not in that county and if at some point the rules change and the county I am in requires VRBO to remit taxes, I will be informed and will no longer have to pay them on my end. I appreciate the heads up about this though, I am glad my rentals are not being double taxed. Lisa

@Eric A. I don't rent through Airbnb, I rent through VRBO. What do you mean by paying doube the taxes. Are you saying that airbnb is paying the taxes collected by my rental to the State directly and I wouldn't need to. If this is so, do you know if VRBO does the same?

Check the State website for in which the vacation rental is located. Search vacation rental tax or Sales and Use tax. In Florida for example, if you rent your house to someone  for less than 6 mo. then you have to pay a sales and use tax. You have to register with the State and pay your sales and use taxes monthly based on the rent  you received the month before. The tax is paid to me by the renter and I pass it along to the State.